Enzymatic degradation of p-chlorophenol in a two-phase flow microchannel system

Lab Chip. 2003 Nov;3(4):308-12. doi: 10.1039/b309982b. Epub 2003 Oct 14.

Abstract

Enzymatic degradation of p-chlorophenol was carried out in a two-phase flow in a microchannel (100 microm width, 25 microm depth) fabricated on a glass plate (70 mm x 38 mm). This is the first report on the enzymatic reaction in a two-phase flow on a microfluidic device. The surface of the microchannel was partially modified with octadecylsilane groups to be hydrophobic, thus allowing clear phase separation at the end-junction of the microchannel. The enzyme (laccase), which is surface active, was solubilized in a succinic aqueous buffer and the substrate (p-chlorophenol) was in isooctane. The degradation of p-chlorophenol occurred mainly at the aqueous-organic interface in the microchannel. We investigated the effects of flow velocity and microchannel shape on the enzymatic degradation of p-chlorophenol. Assuming that diffusion of the substrate (p-chlorophenol) is the rate-limiting step in the enzymatic degradation of p-chlorophenol in the microchannel, we proposed a simple theoretical model for the degradation in the microchannel. The calculated degradation values agreed well with the experimental data.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Chlorophenols / chemistry*
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Laccase / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Octanes
  • Succinates

Substances

  • Chlorophenols
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Octanes
  • Succinates
  • 4-chlorophenol
  • Laccase
  • 2,2,4-trimethylpentane